Friday, August 26, 2011

"The reason for Steven Jobs out of this world success is that he and the products he invented seduced the world"

As this man steps down from building America's most successful company (valued at $300 Billion) everyone is wondering what was the real secret to his unbelievable success? Was it the innovative products or the visionary leader?

I believe that both the man and his products seduced us. The products were always a thing of beauty both to have and hold and in the way that they worked. But let's be real, if we really look at Apple products there are other companies that produce similar products in terms of usefullnes and price. And yet....

Then there is the man...Steven Jobs. His presentations of new products would bring weeks if not months of high anticipation. His vision was immense. But other corporate leaders would be considered visionary and many much for charismatic.

And yet...

What Steven Jobs, his products and his company do better than any of their competitors do is seduce us into wanting to be seen with his products. There is a sort of status that goes with having an Apple product and for some wanting to be the first in your tribe to get it.

So how did he seduce us?

He employed the seduction techniques of:

Beauty

Surprise

Novelty

Simplicity and efficiency

Original (authentic)

Fun

Passion

And a great story..

There is so much more to a Steve Jobs product than just the product itself. There is a whole world of personal and product seduction going on. Something to think about?

Saturday, August 20, 2011

"Creative visualization is a good technique to walk you towards your goals and aspirations but pretending is like having a Ferrari"

Last night the wedding photographer cornered me for a conversation right after my MC duties were over. He said, I just wanted to say that God blessed you with a natural talent for speaking and entertaining a crowd. I kept noticing how much the people in this room loved you. I hope that you are appreciative of the gifts that God gave you?

As much as I was willing to let him inflate my little pointed head, I thought to myself this isn't really true. Because if God gave me that gift he sure hid it from me for a long time. And he hid it so well it took many years to find it.

I'm the guy who failed Grade 12 English because I was so painfully shy that I couldn't deliver a 3 minute speech to my classmates. My marks up to the end of class were plenty good enough to pass but this teacher was determined to use me as an example to the rest of the class. That old battle axe, as I called her, actually flunked me because of my shyness disability.

So how did I go from the shy introverted kid to someone that people believe has a natural talent in front the crowd? After I got out of school and into the big bad world I quickly recognized that my shyness liability was hurting me so I convinced myself to start pretending that I wasn't shy. I couldn't go from shy to public speaker in one step just by pretending, that would be just too big a leap.

So I started out on the edges of my comfort zone. I started pretending by occasionally speaking out in a small group and worked my way up to larger groups. Amazingly, people stopped seeing me as shy and just assumed I was normal. It has progressed over the years. Then one day I realized that I actually had become an extrovered guy. Wow...I pretended my way to being perceived as a 'natural born speaker'. Amazing!

As I said, start pretending on the edges of your comfort zone. There is no point pretending to be a medical doctor when you haven't graduated from high school. Small progressive pretending steps will take you a long way towards your objective. No need to be delusional about it.

"You become who you pretend to be"

You start acting as if....and one day....you are! How beautifully simple is that? And the reason this works is because you are actually taking positive action towards becoming something. That is the big flaw in using visualization to achieve something. Without action it just doesn't work very well. You can sit their all day visualizing and try to create some perfect vibration but at the end of day nothing much changes. And that is why I say....

"Positive thoughts without positive action is a postive waste of time"

It's more fun and productive to pretend to be what you want to become. So what can you pretend to be?

Friday, August 19, 2011

"It is better to be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt" (Mark Twain)

When I was a young man in the Navy I was quite shy in any group. I would hold back from saying anything for not wanting to draw attention to myself. One day one of the older sailors said to me...oh yeah Ed how did you get to be the smart one? That floored me because I had no idea my ship mates thought of me as intelligent.

I came to realize the because I said so little in a group setting and waited until I had something worthwhile that it caused them to think of me as intelligent. That lesson has always stayed with me...to try and not babble on like a fool. Now don't get me wrong I am still capable of a little foot in mouth disease but not often.

"The harder you try to impress, the more you diminiss yourself"

Trying to impress is the 'warrior way'. You can't seduce someone by saying ...look at me I'm great! Truth is we are more impressed by those who are impressed with us. And that is the 'seducer way'. We like those that like us and those that love themselves a little too much turn us off. It's better to share the spotlight then try to hog it.

Seducers have an unfair advantage because they know that a little silence goes a long way. Seducers know that the fun in seduction is to make it fun for others. And you can't do that if you make it all about you.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

"The truest expression of love is to give your total undivided attention"

How often do you give those who matter most your total undivided attention? How often do you turn out the outside distractions and turn off your mouth long enough to tune into your loved ones? If you are not connecting with someone its probably because your body is present but your mind is somewhere else.

The greatest compliment you can give anyone is your total undivided attention.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

There are no exceptions, if you cause people to feel good about themselves they will be seduced. They will want to be in your presence and they will want the best for you. Enemies will become friends, acquaintances will become confidants and the end result is that your life will become fun, easy and abundant (as it was meant to be).

"Everyone is worth seducing"

There is only one way to become a master seducer and that is to seduce everyone who crosses your path. It matters not whether they have any ability to do anything for you. In fact to seduce someone who is of absolutely no benefit to you is evidence of spiritual growth.

"Today is your playground for fun and growth"

Who will you cause to feel good about themselves today? There is no need for me to tell someone as smart as you how to make someone feel good about themselves? You know or can easily figure that one out.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

"You can always tell a true friend. When you've made a fool of yourself, she doesn't think you've done a pernament job"

If you were to ask me, what is the one principle to live by that will make your life fun, easy and abundant? I would say surround yourself with givers. Having friends who are givers is the cherry on top of life's meaning.

5 Benefits of having givers as friends (there are many more of course)

1. There is no such thing as it's my turn. No need to keep track of who did what because givers love giving.

2. Givers give off positive energy. Their positive energy lifts you up and makes you feel good about yourself.

3. Givers make you want to be a better person.

4. Givers are happy people and that happiness can be contagious.

5. Someone always has your back. Just knowing that when you stumble someone will put out a hand is very reasurring. If you are being criticised in your absence someone will defend you.

6. Having givers as friends means a life of pleasant surprises. You never know what will be given to you for no reason other than that you are loved. (OK I know that makes six but what the hey, I just felt like giving a little more)

Takers

Avoid these people like you would an unnecessary root canel. The first sign you are with a taker is that their conversation revolves around me me and me. No matter where the conversation goes they find a way to make it about themselves. They will use you and abuse you. They are self centered and immature . They believe that in order for them to succeed they need to take from others. These people are toxic to your happiness.

Fools

The fools are takers but don't know it. They may see themselves as givers but they suck the energy out of you. They may make you a supper but then they dump every morsel of their problems on your plate. These are people who as I said appear to be givers but are so negative that they are draining to be around.

Fakers

The fakers are the ones that calculate that if they give they will get something back. They only give because they think it will gain them something now or down the road. They will fool you but mostly they fool themselves.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Some recent research has shown that the type of God you believe in has an impact on the quality of your life. For instance, if you believe in a kind benovalent God, you will worry less and handle stress better. And as an added bonus you are more likely to live longer and happier. If you believe a God who punishes you for your sins (and who doesn't sin) then you will be more anxious and stressed in life. The more fundamentalist types as we know are more likely to blow up innocents and themselves. They are more apt to believe in guns for everyone and harsher treatment for those who break the law.

And what if you believe in no God?

Buddists seem to be just as charmed as those who believe in the kind benovlant and forgiveing God. A lot of that is attributed to a gentle life philosophy and meditation.

What about atheists?

That's too hard to measure since the personal philosophy of an athiest can be all over the map from kind to mean, from generous to miserly. You get the picture.

Truth is most people don't chose their religion they inherit it. Overwhelmingly most people take up the religion of their parents. They may and often do believe whole heartedly in their faith but it is hardly chosen. Most would admit they never ever entertained any other possibilities? They were so indoctriated as youths that the thought of openly examining another belief would seem sacriligous.

It seems to me that whatever you believe in it's best if it is based more on love and less on punishment! If you want to live a long happy life then it seems to me that this is something worth thinking about?

On the other hand if your God is working for you beautifully....

And now since you've been so tolerant of my ramblings, I leave you with this story...

The Atheist, A Bear And GodAn atheist was walking through the woods, admiring all that the
"accidents" that evolution had created.

"What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he
said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes
behind him. Turning to look, he saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards
him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder
and saw the grizzly was closing.

Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He
looked again and the bear was even closer.

His heart was pounding and he tried to run faster. He tripped and fell
to the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but the bear was right
over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw
strike him.

At that instant the atheist cried, "Oh my God...!"

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.
Even the river stopped moving.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky,
"You deny my existence for all these years, teach others that I don't exist
and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help
you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical to
ask to be religious after all these years, but perhaps you could make
the bear religious?"

"Very well" said the voice.

The light went out. The river ran. The sounds of the forest resumed.

..and then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together
and bowed its head and spoke: "Lord, for this food which I am about to
receive, I am truly thankful..."

Monday, August 8, 2011

If we observe nature we frequently use terms such as: inspiring, majestic, awesome and breathtaking. Have you ever stood looking out at the bountiful ocean or snow capped mountain and thought to yourself, man this is ugly if I could only move that moutain a little to the left it would be so much prettier? Even when you look up to the skies and see a threatening storm we can still find the beauty in it.

No only man can create ugly. We can destroy what is naturally beautiful and do it with alarming ease. We have the ability to rip up the wilderness, pollute the skies and water. It is us humans that create ugly and not the universe.

"Our eyes perceive what we believe"

Being beautiful or handsome isn't a label that others bestow on you. It is a gift you give yourself. You just decide to be beautiful and voila....you are! And it goes without saying that in order to feel beautiful you must first love yourself. Many times I've read that real beauty comes from within. Truthfully, I never really understood or bought into that. Until....

One day I saw a girl whom I had once dated. The date was pleasant but we never really connected. If I was being truthful, I didn't really find her that attractive. She was what I would have called in those days, marginal.

Then I saw her several months later. She was with another guy coming off the dance floor. It was so obvious that they were head over heels madly in love. And damned if she didn't look like the most beautiful girl in the place. That girl was shining! She glowed and her beauty was busting out all over the room. I couldn't help but also notice that all the other guys were noticing my former marginal girl as well.

The next day I was thinking over her transformation (at least in my eyes). I wrote this down and it has always stuck in my head...

"My first impression was to pass her byuntil I saw her in love with another guy"

Sounds like the making of a country song to me...kind of sad in a way. But the big lesson learned by me was this...

"Everything and anyone who is loved becomes beautiful"

So if you want to make someone beautiful then just love them. If you want to make any thing beautiful, love it. Now since I want you all to be beautiful today and every day, I'm thinking beautiful thoughts of you right now.

Pssst....This is an excerpt from my book...How To Seduce Life (ok it's also another shameless plug)

Friday, August 5, 2011

"Normal people work twice as hard, make half as much and hardly have any fun at all"

That's why I wrote the book...to show others who were a little off center like me that we need to accentuate our differences and quit worrying about fitting in. Those who fit in are working much too hard for too little and more than anything....aren't having much fun.

And I guess that's why a friend of mine keeps calling me....'Special Ed' . That really cracks him up. I can't say I blame I laugh at my own jokes all the time. Sometimes before I even reach the punch line!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

"if your life is becoming boring maybe it's because you don't have a fun file"

Four or five years ago my son was playing with his first iphone. I asked him what he was doing? He said, 'I'm just checking my fun file'. Now that got my interest! Ok, I said, 'what is a fun file?' 'I keep a list of all the fun things I like to do and so when I get bored I just check my fun file to decide what to do.' Wow the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Do you have a fun file? Do you plan for fun in your life or do you just let it happen by chance? The answer will tell me how much fun you are squeezing out of life. Most of you plan for your future, plan for your family, plan for your career or business. But do your plan to have fun?Ok, I admit you probably plan for your vacation but I want you to have fun more than just a couple weeks of the year.

If you don't want your reality cheque to bounce or be returned NSF (not sufficient fun) I urge you to start a fun file. Start a list of all the fun things you want to do one day and then when bored creeps into your life you can slay it quickly with your fun file.

Thanks son!

(from my fun file a picture of me sailing with my amgios on the weekend)

P.S. This is another of the great ideas from my book...How To Seduce Life﻿

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

That handsome young lad you see in the picture above is my friends son Antowaine. He is 8 years old going on 16. Yesterday I found him on the houseboat reading my book, Well at least he was reading the cartoons at the start of every chapter. He was so into it, I had to laugh. It made me wonder what differences my life would have made if I had learned some of the book lessons at a young age?

Oh, and now Antowaine (and my friends) want me to write a childrens book. Apparently they feel that because I'm so in touch with my inner child it would be a short leap for me to write for kids? Antowaine feels my cartoon hero should be based on him and as for the smart ass girl? He has a lot of candidates in his class who could qualify. Maybe....

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About Me

My second book....'Secrets of Master Persuaders' will be coming out this year!
Here's why I know this book is so damn important..
"If you can't persuade others to buy into your ideas then they won't matter much.
And if you can't persuade others to believe in you then you won't matter much"
GOOD NEWS.....this book will show you how to become a 'master of persuasion'.
And you will be amazed at how easy and fun it is.